Graf bids farewell to Wimbledon

When Steffi Graf walked into the post-match interview after playing her 31st Grand Slam final, no one had envisaged that her first words were to be that this was her last visit. In one week Wimbledon had lost two champions, Graf and Boris Becker. It seemed inconceivable that she was finally turning over her lawns to the scavenging teenagers.

For Graf the difficulty of making the decision was certainly eased by Davenport's victory, and the way it was so uncomplicated. In a match pivoting on just two break points, it has always been Graf who would pick her time to strike. Yesterday that predatory instinct was not there. Graf was outplayed by a 23-year-old American who will only improve.

"It's basically, I won't be back. I don't think I need to clarify anything," she said. "I won't be here as a player again. I will not comment on anything other than that. I haven't had enough time to think about things."

The seven times winner had being hoping to add another title to the French Open she won at Roland Garros four weeks ago.

Most players agree that the toughest part of the tennis calendar is the six-week stretch between the last week in May and the first week in July as it encompasses two Grand Slams, the French Open and Wimbledon on two totally different surfaces, slow red clay and fast grass.

Since Roland Garros first opened its gates to international competition in 1925, only seven women have won the two titles in the same year, Graf has accomplished the feat four times in 1988, 1993, 1995 and 1996. Had she won yesterday she would have set a record. Only Helen WillsMoody has equalled Graf between 1928 and 1932.

To that heap of precious metal there were also four Australian Open trophies and five from the US Open, comprising an extraordinary 22 Grand Slam singles wins.

There is good reason why the image makers and the public have latched on to the fortunes of the 30-year-old. They have embraced Graf in the way city traders look at long term markets. She is blue chip, classic and now even iconic.

"Steffi is one of the greatest female athletes of the 20th century and arguably the best female tennis player in the history of the game," said John McEnroe this week.

That was before Graf broke the news to him that she was pulling out of the mixed doubles to protect a thigh niggle. But McEnroe's opinions are a sought after commodity and few would disagree.

Having started out on her career as the second youngest player to receive a ranking on the professional tour at 13 years and four months in 1982, Graf moved into the world's top 10 just two years later.

By 1987 she had won her first major at the French Open and continued to win at least one Grand Slam every year until 1996 when injury and family problems interfered with her game. Her father and one time coach Peter was jailed for tax fraud and was implicated in a sex controversy which both embarrassed and upset his daughter. She stood by him although he separated from her mother Heidi.

Between 1997 and 1998 she was forced out of the game for eight months following a knee injury and didn't figure in Grand Slams until this year's French Open, her first major win since 1996.

But even this year's success has been hailed as a renaissance, something only Graf with her unmatched athleticism and sprinting ability around court, could pull off. Her ease at winning has always been supported by a rigorous work ethic.

"It's sad. She came through so much, she's the greatest player probably that's ever played but at the same time I think it's very cool that she is able to go out on her own," said Davenport yesterday.

"You know, yesterday when I came off court (semi-final) I said to my coach `I want to play Graf. I'm playing in the Wimbledon final. I want to play Steffi'," she added.

Graf's compatriot Michael Stich, who has also retired from professional tennis, can also see the full frame. "Why come back and lose in the second, third or fourth round when you don't have to," he said.

Whether she plays the US Open or not, and yesterday she would not say, Graf has been a towering presence.

"Right now, I'm a little sad but I still feel like a winner getting out of this tournament. Sure there have been difficult times but I guess, there's going to be a certain time when I've got to move on with something else in my life," she said.

Attendance records tumbled at Wimbledon this year: 30,802 people were there yesterday - 2,737 more than the previous high. Over the fortnight, 457,069m showed up - an all-tome record.